Solving the Puzzle

Have you ever heard someone use the phrase “putting out fires?” I hear this all the time and sort of cringe every time I hear it! It’s one of those business phrases that just doesn’t sit well with me.

Putting out fires sounds so…unpleasant. If someone asked me if I wanted to do that, I would probably feel reluctant, resentful, and a host of other negative things! What if we had an alternative phrase to use when responding to these unexpected, urgent needs that inevitably arise in all of our workplaces?

As startup project managers, this mitigation is naturally part of our day to day. There’s always going to be an urgent bug, an unexpected absent team member, or a dissatisfied client - - and on a really fun day it could be all three! Learning how to manage all of these challenges gracefully and in stride is an art. And a large part of that art is mindset.

So, what if, instead of viewing these challenges as “fires” we viewed them as “puzzles?”

What I’m saying is, we “solve the puzzle” instead of “put out the fire.” Doesn’t your brain wrap around the puzzle concept much more freely? Doesn’t it feel far more manageable than the alternative?

Puzzles are fun yet challenging. They can be games yet they also require critical thinking skills. We can stay steady yet intrigued by the puzzle, not stressed out and overwhelmed. Why can’t we approach work in the same way?

Speaking from experience, once I started to think like this, my brain was able to wrap around the problem and potential solutions more easily. With this thinking in place, I have been able to coach teams and individuals, take on challenging projects, and address potentially intimidating situations. With the relief that I no longer need to function as a firefighter, I can now approach these tough scenarios with a renewed mindset.

Are you a startup project manger who is “putting out fires” instead of “solving the puzzle?” How can you reframe your responsibilities in a more positive way?